§ 15. Mr. David MartinTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from industrialists about the importance of reducing Government burdens on business.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe Government get frequent representations about the need to reduce burdens or to keep them light. They also get many representations against proposals that the Labour party and, sometimes, the Commission sponsor which would burden business.
§ Mr. MartinWill my hon. Friend continue not only to listen to the representations, but to act on them in every way possible? Will he remind any business man foolish enough to think that a Labour Government would be better for business of the myriad proposals which would prove the truth to be quite the opposite, which would make life far more difficult and which would especially energise union militancy which is at the bottom of some of the proposals?
§ Mr. RedwoodI can promise that the Government will do no less. We want to keep the burdens down. Some of the burdens identified recently by business which worry it most are proposals such as the minimum wage and some elements of the social charter which would greatly increase costs and could resurrect union militancy after our years of recent success in which we have created far more harmony and success. We have a very good strike record.